Craigalappan Wood, Antrim - About 6⅔ acres, £45,000

The townland of Craigalappan lends its name to this very varied small woodland with semi-mature broadleaved trees, overgrown hedgerows, low shrubs and open heath, with fine views.

Craigalappan Wood lies a few hundred metres from Straid Road, half way between the towns of Bushmills and Ballycastle. The wood takes its name from the townland in which it sits. It occupies part of a long abandoned farm down a quiet concrete lane, screened from the road by a coniferous plantation. To enter, go through the original farm access and proceed a few metres to the parking area behind the ride stop on your left.

Looking around, some of the first things you will notice are the old stone walls, verdant green with moss, that formed the boundaries of tiny fields surrounding the old farmstead. In the Spring these are carpeted with wood sorrel, primroses, wood anemones and other woodland flowers. Seedlings of species such as ash, rowan, alder, hawthorn and blackthorn have found refuge amongst the stones and as a result the fields where for generations food would have been grown are now instead growing trees. This was the best and most intensely cultivated land.

One of the small fields, to the left of the entrance and measuring less than 20x20m, now provides a welcome spot for peaceful contemplation, with a rustic bench positioned to take advantage of the pretty pastoral views towards the north Antrim coast. The field would make an ideal camping spot.

A long-disused lane by the ride stop marking the entrance to the wood leads you on to an area of land that was cultivated much less. The geology of the wider area in this part of North Antrim is dominated by the basalt that defines the remarkable formations of the world famous Giant's Causeway. Around Craigalappan the basalt never lies far from the ground surface. This has impacted on the soil formation and therefore the vegetation. The combination of poorly drained peat in the hollows between the drier basalt outcrops which have only a thin covering of soil has meant the area has never been farmed intensively.

The section of lane leading out into the open heath has been recently cleared, linking it to the more established woodland around the old farmstead. The unusual vegetation here has led to the area being designated as an Area of Special Scientific Interest, or ASSI. A prolonged period of low intensity grazing has resulted in a great variety of native grasses, rushes, heathers and wild flowers including a profusion of orchids and knapweed. The area is studded with large clumps of gorse with their sweet smelling yellow flowers, and blackthorn with its profusion of white blossoms in early Spring, which form a haven for song birds, providing food and shelter. Occasional lichen covered rocks make great impromptu seats.

The views from this elevated area are wide ranging and on a clear day the Sperrin Mountains can be see off to the south-west, the ridge of Binevenagh to the north-west, and Knocklayd and the Antrim Hills to the east and south-east. It is a quiet, private spot of the sort that is difficult to find in the local area with its widely dispersed rural settlement.

The purchasers of the woodland will be asked to enter into a covenant to ensure the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of adjoining woodlands and meadows.

Local manager

Description

Craigalappan Wood lies a few hundred metres from Straid Road, half way between the towns of Bushmills and Ballycastle. The wood takes its name from the townland in which it sits. It occupies part of a long abandoned farm down a quiet concrete lane, screened from the road by a coniferous plantation. To enter, go through the original farm access and proceed a few metres to the parking area behind the ride stop on your left.

Looking around, some of the first things you will notice are the old stone walls, verdant green with moss, that formed the boundaries of tiny fields surrounding the old farmstead. In the Spring these are carpeted with wood sorrel, primroses, wood anemones and other woodland flowers. Seedlings of species such as ash, rowan, alder, hawthorn and blackthorn have found refuge amongst the stones and as a result the fields where for generations food would have been grown are now instead growing trees. This was the best and most intensely cultivated land.

One of the small fields, to the left of the entrance and measuring less than 20x20m, now provides a welcome spot for peaceful contemplation, with a rustic bench positioned to take advantage of the pretty pastoral views towards the north Antrim coast. The field would make an ideal camping spot.

A long-disused lane by the ride stop marking the entrance to the wood leads you on to an area of land that was cultivated much less. The geology of the wider area in this part of North Antrim is dominated by the basalt that defines the remarkable formations of the world famous Giant's Causeway. Around Craigalappan the basalt never lies far from the ground surface. This has impacted on the soil formation and therefore the vegetation. The combination of poorly drained peat in the hollows between the drier basalt outcrops which have only a thin covering of soil has meant the area has never been farmed intensively.

The section of lane leading out into the open heath has been recently cleared, linking it to the more established woodland around the old farmstead. The unusual vegetation here has led to the area being designated as an Area of Special Scientific Interest, or ASSI. A prolonged period of low intensity grazing has resulted in a great variety of native grasses, rushes, heathers and wild flowers including a profusion of orchids and knapweed. The area is studded with large clumps of gorse with their sweet smelling yellow flowers, and blackthorn with its profusion of white blossoms in early Spring, which form a haven for song birds, providing food and shelter. Occasional lichen covered rocks make great impromptu seats.

The views from this elevated area are wide ranging and on a clear day the Sperrin Mountains can be see off to the south-west, the ridge of Binevenagh to the north-west, and Knocklayd and the Antrim Hills to the east and south-east. It is a quiet, private spot of the sort that is difficult to find in the local area with its widely dispersed rural settlement.

The purchasers of the woodland will be asked to enter into a covenant to ensure the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of adjoining woodlands and meadows.

How to find this woodland

You are welcome to visit this wood
by yourself, but please ensure that you have a copy of these sales details with you - many
of our woodlands do not have mobile phone
reception or internet access so we recommend either printing the details or downloading them
to your phone/tablet/laptop.

Do remember to also check that it is still available for sale.
If you have seen the woodland and wish to be accompanied on a second more detailed visit
please contact our local manager.

2. For Satnav: the nearest postcode is BT54 6NW on Straid Road, as shown by the red dot on the maps: the coordinates are: N55.202235 W6.381207 for the entranceway.

3. Travelling from the west leave Bushmills on the B17 towards Ballycastle. After about 8 miles take the concrete lane on your left immediately after a red brick and stone house.

Travelling from the east leave Ballycastle on the A2 towards Bushmills and stay on this road when it becomes the B17. About 6½ miles from Ballycastle take the concrete lane on your right immediately before a red brick and stone house.

Travelling from the south and Belfast take the M2 / A26 from Ballymena towards Coleraine, then turn right towards Ballycastle at the end of the dual carriageway onto the Drones Road. When you reach the village of Armoy turn left after the bridge then take the first right signposted for Ballintoy on the Carrowreagh Road. At the end of this road turn right onto the Ballinlea Road and proceed over the Dry Arch. After about 4 miles turn left onto the B17 Straid Road at the T-junction. The concrete lane leading to Craigalappan Wood will be found on your right after about ½ mile, just before a red brick and stone house.

Boundaries:

These are the trackside and bank to the north, south is a fence against the conifer plantation, west is a bank and the concrete lane is the boundary to the east.

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Our regional managers are often out working in our woodlands, so if you email an offer and want to be sure it has been received, please phone our manager on his or her mobile phone. The first offer at the stated price which is accepted, whether by phone or email, has priority.

Please take care when viewing as the great outdoors can contain unexpected hazards and woodlands are no exception. You should exercise common sense and caution, such as wearing appropriate footwear and avoiding visiting during high winds.

These particulars are for guidance only and, though believed to be correct, do not form part of any contract. Woodland Investment Management Ltd hereby give notice under section 21 of the Estate Agents Act 1979 of their interest in the land being sold.